The drug is currently under review in the US, with a decision expected by May 26 next year, while a submission in Europe “is also progressing as planned,” AZ said. Current estimates for global peak year sales of ZS-9 exceed $1 billion.

AZ acquired all of ZS Pharma’s outstanding capital stock for $90 per share in an all-cash transaction.

The firm is expecting that the move will generate product sales from 2016, with minimal earnings dilution over 2016 and 2017, becoming accretive to core earnings from 2018.